Drug dealer’s ex-wife who helped arrange his ‘barbaric’ killing visited a psychic days later and revealed details of his death to the victim’s suspicious mother
- Coleen Campbell, 38, facing lengthy prison term after manslaughter conviction
- She was found guilty of helping to arrange ‘barbaric killing’ of her ex, Thomas
The ex-wife of a drug dealer who helped arrange his ‘barbaric killing’ was facing life in jail after revealing private details of his death to her victim’s family following a meeting with a clairvoyant.
Coleen Campbell, 38, shared graphic information about the injuries sustained by Thomas Campbell that would only have been known by his killers after claiming she visited a psychic and was contacted during a séance.
The former Matalan store assistant was convicted of plotting to have her cocaine dealing former partner robbed of cash and drugs at his home after being contacted by a gang who were feuding with him over his new girlfriend.
Campbell was ambushed by a group of three men after he opened his front door in Mossley, Greater Manchester in July 2022, before dying after he suffered 61 separate injuries from being stabbed, punched, stamped on and having boiling water poured on his buttocks.
Thomas’ mother, Lynn Campbell, told police how Coleen shared intimate details of her son’s injuries and information on his attackers after claiming to have been visited by her ex-partner during an encounter with a clairvoyant days after the attack.
Coleen Campbell, 38, shared graphic information about the injuries sustained by Thomas Campbell (pictured together outside court in 2019) that would only have been known by his killers after claiming she visited a psychic and was contacted during a séance
The cocaine dealer, who played an ‘integral’ part in an organised crime gang, was dragged around his home and viciously attacked for two hours, into the morning of July 3. Pictured: Coleen (left) and Thomas Campbell (right)
Lynn Campbell (above), told police how Coleen shared intimate details of her son’s injuries and information on his attackers after claiming to have been visited by her ex-partner during an encounter with a clairvoyant days after the attack
At the time of Coleen’s comments, little information had been made public by police about the fatal assault – but Coleen’s comments sparked suspicion as only the killers could have known the details about Thomas’ fatal wounds.
Inquiries revealed the mother-of-four had been tipping off the killers about her ex-husband’s movements in the run up to the killing.
Cocaine dealer Thomas Campbell was ambushed and attacked by a group of three men after he opened his front door in Mossley, Greater Manchester on July 2, 2022.
Campbell, who played an ‘integral’ part in an organised crime gang, was subdued before being dragged around his home and viciously attacked for two hours.
He suffered 61 separate injuries after being stabbed, punched, stamped on and even had boiling water poured on his buttocks.
Bolton Crown Court heard Coleen went to see the clairvoyant four days following the attack, which she later detailed to Thomas’ mother Lynn Campbell.
She said in a police statement: ‘Coleen told me she had visited a psychic in Wythenshawe.
‘She told me that Thomas had come through during her visit to the psychic and asked her to come to my house.
‘She said he had told her these lads had hurt him and done something to his face. It was over a girl or girls. While she was saying these words Coleen gestured with her hand across her cheek.
‘I told her I don’t want to know and told the police about what she said about Thomas’ injuries.
‘She said there were only two people involved in the incident and not three, and they were still in the country.
‘Coleen then told me Thomas had said he wasn’t bothered about dying young as he had lived a full life. I didn’t see Coleen again following this and haven’t seen her since.’
As Thomas Campbell, 38, opened his front door in Mossley, Greater Manchester, he was ambushed and attacked by three men at around 11pm
Mr Campbell was followed after a tracker was placed on his van while he was picking up his daughter from school
Thomas Campbell pictured on holiday. The group had plotted to rob him of cash, drugs and valuables
Prosecutor Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC added: ‘At this stage, the police had not revealed to the public the injuries to Thomas Campbell’s face.
‘So this information could only have come to Coleen Campbell from one of those who were present and participating in the attack.
‘The telephone evidence demonstrates that she spoke to John Belfield within hours of the attack ending.
‘The prosecution’s case is that this is information that John Belfield gave her, probably before Thomas Campbell had been declared dead by paramedics.’
Coleen became embroiled in the sinister plot after she was contacted on Instagram by John Belfield, 28, who was furious that his ex-girlfriend had started a relationship with Thomas Campbell.
In the following days after connecting on Instagram, Belfield plotted with Coleen to raid her former husband’s home and steal cash, drugs and valuables from him.
Thomas and his ex-wife Coleen Campbell pictured on holiday
The alleged ‘mastermind’ of the fatal attack John Belfield, 28, who is said to be ‘heavily concerned in the large scale supply of class A drugs’, is wanted by police
Thomas Campbell (left) suffered 61 separate injuries after being stabbed, punched, stamped on and even had boiling water poured on his buttocks
Later, Belfield met up with Coleen and subsequently shared 35 phone calls and 68 messages together – including a telephone conversation just hours after the attack, the court heard.
She shared key information about her ex, including details of his van’s registration plate, his house number and his movements and a tracking device was placed on the vehicle whilst Thomas was picking his daughter up from school.
Coleen and Thomas initially hit headlines over a string extravagant trips abroad to a family-run cocaine trafficking racket.
Previous hearings were told Colleen and Thomas used £100,000 in drugs money to take trips to Cancun in Mexico, Sharm El Sheikh, in Egypt, Gran Canaria, Majorca and Bulgaria.
Holiday snaps showed the pair enjoying a yacht trip, frolicking at a swim-up bar and reclining on a giant Rattan bed whilst Coleen was seen cuddling a Marmoset monkey.
In December 2013 the couple from Clayton, Manchester travelled in ‘premium seats’ to Cancun in Mexico for a 10-day family holiday with their children, staying at the five-star Hard Rock Hotel.
Their accommodation included a Jacuzzi, 24-hour room service as well as an Xbox gaming console and during the £10,000 holiday, they chartered a motorboat.
Over the course of 2012 to 2016 Colleen paid cash deposits on BMW’s, Audi’s and Mercedes, using monthly instalments to continue to pay them until upgrading to a better model.
Police launched a murder investigation after Mr Campbell’s body was discovered by neighbours on July 3
Police outside the home of Mr Campbell in Mossley, Greater Manchester, in July last year
At the time the police attended their home in 2015, the couple had a BWM and a high powered Mercedes worth £60,000 on their drive with the matching number plates.
The couple who married in 2011 were eventually detained in a police operation in 2018 which culminated in them admitting concealing criminal property.
Coleen was handed a suspended sentence but Thomas served two years jail and after his release from jail the couple later split up acrimoniously when he started an affair with another woman.
At Bolton Crown Court, Colleen, of Clayton was found guilty of manslaughter following a five week trial. Two other men were also convicted over the killing whilst a third, John Belfield, remains on run.
Reece Steven, 29, was was convicted of murder whilst Stephen Cleworth, 38, was found guilty of manslaughter.
Karl Murphy, 50, was found not guilty of participating in the activities of an organised crime group. Belfield who is said to be ‘heavily concerned in the large scale supply of class A drugs’, is thought to be on the run in Spain.
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